Improvement in peojeotiles



c.v F, BROWN.'

Projectile.

' Patented Septlv 22, 1868.

CHARLES F. BROWN, or WARREN, RHODE ISLAND.

Letters Patent No. 82,284, dated September 22, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROJEGTILBS.

titte .rlpmle numb tu iu tigen trturs patent mu linking nu et its time.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAYOONCERN: l

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BROWN, of Warren, in the county of Bristol, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a' new and improved Projectile for Fire-Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use `the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a side vview of my improved projectile.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is a rear end view of the same.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the tubular fuse-holder, which is arranged within the projectile.

Figure 5 is a transverse section of the fuse-holder,- the plane of section being indicated by the lines wvxdg. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. q

rlhis invention relates to a new shell-projectile, to be propelled by breech or muzzle-loading ordnance, the shell boing ef that class which explodes when it reaches the mark. I

The invention consistsu First, in the use of a tubular fuse-holder within the loaded shell, and in the use of a plunger within'the fusc-holdenall operating in such manner that the fuse is ignited by the charge which propels Vthe shell, but that it does not ignite the powder in the shell until the latter has struck its mark, the ground, or some other object.

A, in the drawing, represents a hollow pointed shell, made of cast metal, of suitable size. Its back plate a, as well as itspoint, is perforatedin the centre, so that a tube, B, can be screwed into and through the shell, the pointed front end ofthe tube being the point of the shell.

The tube does or may `project somewhat beyond the back plate a, as shown, and is open at its back end.

Within the back part ofthe tube is formed a female-screw thread,- as shown in g. 4. l

C is a plunger or rod, inserted within 'the tube, with a wire, -Z), projecting from .its rearend, said Wire or` thin rod being an extension of the axis ofthe plunger.

c e are apertures, 'formed through the sides of the tube. d is a screw-plug, screwed into the tube, and e another screw-plug, screwed into the rear end cf the tube, to close that end. A chamber is thus formed in the tube between the screws d e. i I

Each one ofthe said screw-plugs is or may be perforated through the centre, and also nearer the edge.

The body of the plunger C is held iu the chamber formed between the plug d vand thefront end of the tube B. l v.

Before the tube is inserted in the shell, and after the plunger C is inserted in the tube, the'plug al is put in. The plunger is then caused to'rest with its rear end against the plug d, so that the wire, I1, tits through 1, `the said plug, a's indicated in fig. 4.A

In this position the plungeris clamped, by means of a small setscremf,l which is shown in iig. 4.

The rear end ofthe tube B i-s then filled with an explosive compound or fuse, g,which is so tightly packed that it will, by friction, retain and hold the wire', and with it the plunger C, in place, so that the screw f may be dispensed with. Y

It will he understood that the wire is thus retained in the fuse while the plunger closes the apertures c. The pluge can new be applied tothe rear end lof the tube C, but may be entirely dispensed with. l f' The tube is now inserted in the shell, in-the manner shown in fig. 2. I The shell is then filled with powder, through au aperture formed through the back plate a, or` through any other part of the shell. When the shell is lled with powder, the said aperture is closed, by means of a screw or other plug, h.

The powder in the shell would, through the apertures c, enter. the tube, if these apertures were not closed by the plunger C.

When the gun is redfthe 'fuse g is ignited by the burning charge, and heats the wire, b, red hot; but it sassi A 2 cannot impart its re to the powder in the sh'ell as long as the plunger is` in the position shown. But, as soon as the shell strikes against something, the shock will cause the plunger to fly forward, thereby the apertures c are opened, and the powder in the shell enters the tube, falling upon the red-hot wire b, and is consequently ignited, and bursts the shell.

To recapitulate: The fuse is ignited by the charge which propels the shell. The fuse cannot ignite the powder in the shell until the latter strikes something, then explosion takes place. The fuse need, therefore, not be regulated according to the distance or time of flight, and the shell will consequently be certainly and automatically exploded as soon as it reaches its mark, or strikes an object, wherever or whenever that may be.

The charge which propels the shell may be applied separately, as usual, or may be held in a tubular prolongation or case, D, which may be attached in suitable manner to the body of th'e shell.

The rear part of such case D should, by preference, be grooved or corrugated, as shown in gs. 1 and 3, so that, when it is expanded by the action of the exploding-charge, it may lit tight into the grooves of the riled gun.

A perforated capfE, may be fitted over the rear end of the tube B, to protect the same.

For breech-loading ordnance, a pin, z', may extend backward from thc cap E, to receive a percussion-cap on its end, as shown in g. 2.

F is a cover, tted over the rear end of the case D.. The cover has a flange, j, lapping over` the case, as shown, and its body is either flat or convex, or concave on either or both sides. This cover is only used for breechdoaders. The hammer, bolt,A or pin for discharging the cannon strikes the cover in the centre, and

causes the explosion of the percussion-cap on the pin e'. thereby causing the ignition ofthe charge, and the con` sequent discharge of the cannon.

The cover is, by the expanding force of the charge, pressed back against the breech-block, and its flange is expanded, so that it will form an air-tight lining, to prevent the escape of gas through the breech-end of the cannon.

The next shell inserted pushes the cover of the former charge forward, and the same is then expelled withy the shell.

For muzzle-loaders, the cover F is dispensed with, an explosive fabric being tted over the rear end of the case D, to be ignited by the primer, and'to ignite the charge.

Through the sides of the case D, as near in front as possible, or even through the rear part of the shell itself, are or 'may be formed apertures X, fitted with lead, or other material, which will easily melt.

By the heat of the ignited charge in the case, these plugs, fitting the apertures K, are melted, and allow air to pass into the case during the flight of the projectile; thereby. the formation of a vacuum within and in rear of the case D is prevented, as well as the collapse of the weak rear part ofthe case.

I do not claim, broadly, hollow projectiles, no constructed that the fuse within them will be ignited by the propelling-charge, the fuse igniting the powder only when the shells strike the obstacle, as I am aware that such shells are not new; but, having thus described my invention,

What I claim es new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The tube B and plunger C, arranged within the hollow projectile A, the plunger serving to separate the powder in the shell .from the fuse in the tube, while the shell is undisturbed in its motion, as specified.

2. The wire, b, formed on the plunger, for the purpose of becoming heated by the ignited fuse, and, for

igniting the powder'or other explosive matter in the shell, as soon as the latterstrikes an obstacle, as specied.

3. The tube B, tted into the hollow shell A, and provided with apertures c, with a perforated'plug, d, or its equivalent, and with a fuse, g, all arranged in combination with the plunger C, which carries the wire, b, and all made and operating substantially as herein shown and described, for the purpose specified.

4. The perforated cap E, fitted over the rear end of the tube B, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination of the shell A, tube B, plunger C, and wire, with the ease D, cap E, and apertures K, all made, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

6. The rod a', ideombination with the tube B, plunger C, and wire, b, all made and operating substantially .as herein shown and described. v

vCHARLES F. BROWN.V Witnesses.

FRANK BLocxLEY, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

